Diverting valve

ABSTRACT

A diverting valve is provided having no moving parts in contact with the fluid, and a temperature responsive pilot valve which determines proportioning of the flow between the two outlets of the diverting valve, and a fluidic pilot valve which operates to switch the flow away from one of the outlets when it decreases below a predetermined value in that outlet.

United States Patent 3,193,197 7/1965 Bauer l37/8l.5 X 3,204,405 9/1965 Warren et al.. l37/81.5 X 3,220,428 11/1965 Wilkerson 137/8 1 .5 3,267,946 8/1966 Adams et al. 137/815 3,277,914 10/1966 Manion 137/81.5

' 3,313,313 4/1967 Katz 137/81.5 3,432,102 3/1969 Turner et a1... l37/8l.5 X 3,509,896 5/1970 Bowles l37/8l.5

Primary Examiner-Samuel Scott Attorney-Zachary T. Wobensmith, 2nd

ABSTRACT: A diverting valve is provided having no moving parts in contact with the fluid, and a temperature responsive pilot valve which detennines proportioning of the flow between the two outlets of the diverting valve, and a fluidic pilot valve which operates to switch the flow away from one of the outlets when it decreases below a predetermined value in that outlet.

PATENTED JUL 2 7 I9?! INVENTOR ROBERT 8. ADA M5 DIVERTING VALVE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application relates to improvements in the Diverting Valve disclosed in the prior application of C. B. Moore and R. B. Adams, filed Mar. 27, I967, Ser. No. 626,027, now US Pat. No. 3,468,330, issued Sept. 23, 1969.

BACKGROUND or INVENTION 1. Field of Invention 1 This invention relates to diverting valves for the control of the liquid flow with delivery to either of two locations, dependent upon the flow and liquid temperature, the diverting valve having no moving parts exposed to the liquid.

This invention further relates to a diverting valve useful for but not limited to controlling flow of water into the radiator of a Diesel engine locomotive for cooling when a predetermined flow rate has been established and to bypass the radiator at a lower predetennined flow rate to prevent freezing which might otherwise occur.

2. Description of Prior Art It has heretofore been proposed to provide valves with vanes or gates for selection of a path of flow but no satisfactory provisions have been made for selectivity of flow without moving parts, or with a control to prevent a flow below a predetermined amount from occurring in one of the two outlets.

The US. Pat. to Joesting, No. 3,l59,208, shows a temperature responsive fluid flow control device including a diverting valve for diverting a flow through a heat exchange coil for cooling the fluid or bypassing the fluid around the heat exchanger but there is no control at the outlet of the diverting valve nor any pilot valve acting in response to conditions at the outlet of the diverting valve and by which starting up can be effected at a lower pressure than the pressure at which it closes down.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is the principal object of the present inventipn to provide a diverting valve for liquids having no moving parts exposed to the liquid with a temperature responsive control so that, as the liquid temperature increases, more liquid is delivered through one predetermined path, and an outlet responsive control so that flow, less than a predetermined amount, is switched away from the predetermined'path to a different path.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a diverting valve for liquids with no moving parts exposed to the liquid, in which the liquid is delivered through a heat exchanger only when it is hot enough and of sufficient flow rate to avoid the possibility of freezing occurring in the heat exchanger at the worst expected ambient conditions.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a diverting valve and controls therefor which is particularly suited for control of cooling water flow for Diesel engines and the like with less cycling of the radiators thereby reducing thermal and pressure shock.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a fluid system embodying the diverting valve of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes, can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a fluid system is illustrated having a pump 10 driven by any suitable prime mover with liquid cooling, which can be a Diesel engine for driving a locomotive. The pump 10 has its inlet connected by a pipe 11 from a tank 12 which functions as a sump, and its outlet connected by a pipe 13 to the cooling jacket 14 of the prime mover. The jacket 14 is connected bya pipe l5'to a diverting or control valve 16 which is preferably'mounted on or is close to the top of the tank 12.

The diverting or control valve 16 has a return connection pipe 17 which is submerged below the normal level of the liquid in the tank 12. The diverting valve 16 has a delivery connection 18 extending upwardly and discharging into a cooling radiator 19, such as that employed for cooling the fluid for the Diesel engine. The radiator 19 also has a return connection 20 to the tank 12.

The diverting valve 16 has a convergent passageway 25 which extends to a throat or nozzle at 26. The interior of the nozzle 26 can be rectangular in cross section.

The nozzle 26 communicates with a fluid interaction chamber 27 having opposite diverging and converging sidewalls 28 and 29 for fluid movement therebetween, and a discharge throat 30. The chamber 27 is preferably short enough to eliminate the possibility .of bistable performance.

Control ports 31 and 32 are provided connected to the chamber 27 at the downstream end of the nozzle 26 to which pipes 33 and 34 are connected for determining the deflection of the fluid in the chamber 27 from the nozzle 26.

A temperature responsive valve 35 is provided which has a fluid connection 36 extending thereto from the pipe 15 and proportionally controls the delivery of fluid through the pipe 33 or the pipe 34 or both as determined by the temperature in the pipe '15.

The valve 16, beyond the throat 30, has a flaring region 38 with upper sidewall 60 and lower sidewall 61 for the purpose of further influencing the direction of the jet issuing from throat 30. Immediately beyond the sidewalls 60 and 61 there is an equalizing chamber or cross over fluid connector 41 to prevent downstream conditions from having any effect on the jet direction in the region 38.

The equalizing chamber 41 communicates with a first outlet leg 39 which extends into pipe 18 and a second outlet leg 40 communicating with pipe 17. A splitter 62 separates the two outlets from each other.

A pilot valve 45 having no moving parts is provided at a higher level than that of the diverting valve 16, and at the desired level in the pipe 18. The pilot valve 45 has a fluid inlet connection 46 to the pipe 18 and a nozzle 47 communicating with a fluid interaction chamber 48 having opposite diverging and converging sidewalls 49 and 50 for selective fluid lock-on. The chamber 48 has an outlet throat 51 with diverging legs 52 and 53 therebeyond.

The leg 52 to which fluid is diverted by the wall 49 is free to discharge fluid to the interior of the tank 12. The leg 53 to which fluid is diverted by the wall 50 has a restriction 54 through which it delivers fluid to the interior of the tank 12.

The nozzle 47 has a fluid connection 56 adjacent to it, the fluid connection 56 having an elevated open end 57 from which liquid can be discharged into the tank 12.

The leg 53 also has a pipe 58 extending to a minimum flow control port 59 for air or for liquid access to the diverting valve 16 as hereinafter explained.

The mode of operation will now be pointed out.

Assume that the pump 10 is operating to supply liquid from the tank 12 through the pipes 11 and 13 to the cooling jacket 14 and then through the pipe 15 and nozzle 26 to the fluid interaction chamber 27.

If now the temperature of the liquid in the pipe 15 is below a predetermined level, say below F., the valve 35 will shut off flow through the pipe 34 and direct all flow through the pipe 33 and control port 31 to the chamber 27. Fluid entering the chamber 27 from the nozzle 26 will tend to follow the wall 28 because of the deflection received from the maximum flow through control port 31 and the action of the diverging-converging walls of the chamber 27. The flow will exit chamber 27 through throat pointed in a downwardly direction as it moves from left to right so that it locks onto wall 61 and passes into outlet leg for return to tank 12. The radiator supply pipe 18 is accordingly bypassed and, because of the vent through pilot to the air space in tank 12, radiator 19 and pipe 18 are filled with air. Air is also entering minimum flow control port 59 because of the aspirating effect of the jet passing through throat 30 and this is very effective in preventing upper wall 60 from attracting this jet toward it.

If now the temperature rises to a predetermined level, say l F., the valve 35 will permit a limited quantity of liquid to pass into the pipe 34 and thus cause the liquid from the nozzle 26 to move proportionally away from its initial position along wall 28. This reduces the downward angle that the jet makes the valve centerline as it exits throat 30. However, because of the air between the jet and upper wall 60, the jet still remains locked onto lower wall 61 and passes to the tank through outlet 40. The reduced downward angle of the jet passing through throat 30 permits a small amount of liquid to be aimed at outlet leg 39 but the energy of this is only sufficient to build up and maintain a stable liquid level in pipe 18 below pilot valve 45. As the temperature rises further this liquid level rises in pipe 18 and, upon reaching the elevation of pilot valve 45, the liquid fills all the passages of this pilot valve. This prevents air from entering the valve 16 through the minimum flow control port 59. The region in the valve 16 between the jet issuing from throat 30 and the upper sidewall 60 fills with liquid thus increasing the attractiveness of this wall to the jet. When this happens the jet will experience a sudden upward deflection which will cause a portion of the flow to be delivered to outlet leg 39 for delivery through pipe 18 into radiator 19. When flow occurs in the radiator 19 the pressure at the inlet 46 to pilot valve 45 suddenly rises, due to the radiator resistance, causing a flow to start up in the pilot valve 45. This flow follows a path through nozzle 47 along wall 50 of chamber 48 because of the leakage path provided by fluid connection 56 while the inlet pressure is building up. The flow path exits chamber 48 directed into leg 53 providing a continuing source of liquid for the minimum flow control port 59 of valve 16. The elevated open end 57 of fluid connection 56 must be low enough to permit liquid to exit freely from it once the initial radiator flow is established in order to maintain the pilot flow into leg 53.

The initial flow into the radiator 19 can be made large enough to prevent freezing of the water in the radiator 19 by the design of the angles, contour and length of the sidewalls 60 and 61, the location of the splitter 62, and the elevation of the pilot valve 45. For example, a larger value at initial flow to radiator 19 on rising temperature may be obtained by increas ing the attractiveness of walls 60 and 61, by locating the splitter 62 to favor a flow direction through outlet 40 and by increasing the elevation of pilot valve 45. However, both walls 60 and 61 must be made short enough to avoid fluid lock-on from occurring when minimum flow control port 59 is supplied with liquid.

A further increase in liquid temperature will make the valve 35 increase the flow through the pipe 34 and reduce the flow through pipe 33. This will make the jet issuing from nozzle 26 in valve 16 move its path toward wall 29 and away from wall 28. Also, as this jet exits from chamber 27 its path will move closer to wall 60 and further from wall 61 delivering more flow to outlet leg 39 for transport to the radiator 19. In this manner the flow to the radiator 19 will increase from its initial value proportionately to the temperature increase until it is the same as the inlet to valve 16.

1f, now, either because of cooling or reduction in pump speed, the flow to the radiator 19 falls to a point where the pressure at the inlet 46 of the pilot valve 45 is insufficient to overflow at the end 57 of the fluid connection 56, the jet in the pilot chamber 48 locks to wall 49 for discharge through the leg 52. This action can be easily accomplished by the use of asymmetry in pilot valve 45 favoring wall 49. Air can then again enter the pipe 58 and port 59 which allows the liquid in valve 16, leaving the chamber 27 to be locked onto wall 61 and be delivered entirely through leg 40 to tank 12 thus bypassing the radiator 19. The flow path in the pilot valve 45 remains locked to wall 49 as the pressure in pipe 18 drops toward zero. The pipe 58 is thus exposed to a continuing source of air to maintain the flow in valve 16 directed along wall 61 toward outlet 40 into pipe 17 for direct return to the tank 12.

Increasing the elevation of the end 57 of fluid connection 56 relative to pilot valve 45 will increase the predetermined value at which flow to the radiator ceases on decreasing temperature.

I claim:

1. Liquid delivery control apparatus comprising a chamber having an outlet,

a nozzle member for delivering a liquid jet into said chamber,

control ports and fluid connections communicating with said chamber for controlling the path of said liquid jet in said chamber and through said outlet,

said chamber having a plurality of sidewalls beyond said outlet,

a control fluid connection to one of said sidewalls for controlling the path of said liquid jet beyond said outlet,

a plurality of fluid passageways beyond said sidewalls, and

pressure equalizing means between said sidewalls and said fluid passageways for preventing downstream conditions from affecting the path of the jet upstream thereof.

2. Liquid delivery control apparatus comprising a chamber having an outlet,

a nozzle member for delivering a liquid jet into said chamber for discharge through said outlet,

passageways beyond said outlet for receiving flow from said outlet, and

means responsive to the pressure of the fluid at said source for preventing flow in one of said passageways when said pressure falls below a predetermined value,

said responsive means including a liquid standpipe extending above said chamber,

the level in said standpipe being responsive to the pressure at said source.

3. Liquid delivery control apparatus comprising a chamber having an outlet,

a nozzle member for continuously delivering a liquid jet into said chamber,

control ports and fluid connections communicating with said chamber for controlling the path of said liquid jet in said chamber and through said outlet,

said chamber having a flaring region beyond said outlet bounded by a plurality of sidewalls, and

a control fluid connection to one of said sidewalls for determining the conditions at said sidewall and thereby controlling the path of said liquid jet beyond said outlet independently of the action of said control ports.

4. Liquid delivery control apparatus as defined in claim 3 having a plurality of fluid passageways beyond said sidewalls.

5. Liquid delivery control apparatus as defined in claim 4 having a pilot valve responsive to the level of the fluid in one of said fluid passageways for controlling the flow to said passageway.

6. Liquid delivery control apparatus as defined in claim 4 having a pilot valve having a supply connection connected to one of said fluid passageways.

7. Liquid delivery control apparatus comprising a chamber having an outlet,

a nozzle member for delivering a liquid jet into said chamber,

control ports and fluid connections communicating with said chamber for controlling the path of said liquid jet in said chamber and through said outlet,

said chamber having a plurality of sidewalls beyond said outlet, 7 i

a control fluid connection to one of said sidewalls for controlling the path of said liquid jet beyond said outlet, and

said fluid interaction chamber has an upstanding liquid head tube connected thereto for determining the direction of flow from said supply nozzle in said interaction chamber. 11. Liquid delivery control apparatus as defined in claim 9 temperature responsive means controlling the conditions at 5 in which said control ports.

8. Liquid delivery control apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which a supply fluid connection is provided for said nozzle member, and

said temperature responsive means controls the flow from said supply fluid connection to said first-mentioned fluid connections and to said control ports.

9. Liquid delivery control apparatus comprising a chamber having an outlet, 7

a nozzle member for delivering a liquid jet into said chamber,

control ports and fluid connections communicating with said chamber for controlling the path of said liquid jet in said chamber and through said outlet,

said chamber having a plurality of sidewalls beyond said outlet,

a control fluid'connection to one of said sidewalls beyond said outlet,

a plurality of fluid passageways beyond said sidewalls, and

a pilot valve responsive to the level of the fluid in one of said passageways for controlling the flow to said passageway,

said pilot valve having a fluid interaction chamber with a supply nozzle connected to said one of said passageways.

10. Liquid delivery control apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which said fluid interaction chamber has a plurality of passageways therebeyond for delivery thereto of fluid from said chamber,

one of said passageways has a restriction therein, and

said last restricted passageway is connected to said control fluid connection.

12. Liquid delivery control apparatus comprising a chamber having an outlet,

a nozzle member for delivering a liquid jet into said chamber for discharge through said outlet,

a source of liquid connected to said nozzle member, and

control means for said nozzle member including a control port in communication with said chamber,

the fluid pressure in said control port being positive with respect to the ambient and responsive to the pressure of said source, and

said control means having a member responsive to the pres sure in said control port for limiting the maximum value of the pressure in said control port.

13. Liquid delivery control apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said responsive member includes a tubular element extending upwardly above said chamber in communication with said nozzle member and of a height to limit the applied head. 

1. Liquid delivery control apparatus comprising a chamber having an outlet, a nozzle member for delivering a liquid jet into said chamber, control ports and fluid connections communicating with said chamber for controlling the path of said liquid jet in said chamber and through said outlet, said chamber having a plurality of sidewalls beyond said outlet, a control fluid connection to one of said sidewalls for controlling the path of said liquid jet beyond said outlet, a plurality of fluid passageways beyond said sidewalls, and pressure equalizing means between said sidewalls and said fluid passageways for preventing downstream conditions from affecting the path of the jet upstream thereof.
 2. Liquid delivery control apparatus comprising a chamber having an outlet, a nozzle member for delivering a liquid jet into said chamber for discharge through said outlet, passageways beyond said outlet for receiving flow from said outlet, and means responsive to the pressure of the fluid at said source for preventing flow in one of said passageways when said pressure falls below a predetermined value, said responsive means including a liquid standpipe extending above said chamber, the level in said standpipe being responsive to the pressure at said source.
 3. Liquid delivery control apparatus comprising a chamber having an outlet, a nozzle member for continuously delivering a liquid jet into said chamber, control ports and fluid connections communicating with said chamber for controlling the path of said liquid jet in said chamber and through said outlet, said chamber having a flaring region beyond said outlet bounded by a plurality of sidewalls, and a control fluid connection to one of said sidewalls for determining the conditions at said sidewall and thereBy controlling the path of said liquid jet beyond said outlet independently of the action of said control ports.
 4. Liquid delivery control apparatus as defined in claim 3 having a plurality of fluid passageways beyond said sidewalls.
 5. Liquid delivery control apparatus as defined in claim 4 having a pilot valve responsive to the level of the fluid in one of said fluid passageways for controlling the flow to said passageway.
 6. Liquid delivery control apparatus as defined in claim 4 having a pilot valve having a supply connection connected to one of said fluid passageways.
 7. Liquid delivery control apparatus comprising a chamber having an outlet, a nozzle member for delivering a liquid jet into said chamber, control ports and fluid connections communicating with said chamber for controlling the path of said liquid jet in said chamber and through said outlet, said chamber having a plurality of sidewalls beyond said outlet, a control fluid connection to one of said sidewalls for controlling the path of said liquid jet beyond said outlet, and temperature responsive means controlling the conditions at said control ports.
 8. Liquid delivery control apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which a supply fluid connection is provided for said nozzle member, and said temperature responsive means controls the flow from said supply fluid connection to said first-mentioned fluid connections and to said control ports.
 9. Liquid delivery control apparatus comprising a chamber having an outlet, a nozzle member for delivering a liquid jet into said chamber, control ports and fluid connections communicating with said chamber for controlling the path of said liquid jet in said chamber and through said outlet, said chamber having a plurality of sidewalls beyond said outlet, a control fluid connection to one of said sidewalls beyond said outlet, a plurality of fluid passageways beyond said sidewalls, and a pilot valve responsive to the level of the fluid in one of said passageways for controlling the flow to said passageway, said pilot valve having a fluid interaction chamber with a supply nozzle connected to said one of said passageways.
 10. Liquid delivery control apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which said fluid interaction chamber has an upstanding liquid head tube connected thereto for determining the direction of flow from said supply nozzle in said interaction chamber.
 11. Liquid delivery control apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which said fluid interaction chamber has a plurality of passageways therebeyond for delivery thereto of fluid from said chamber, one of said passageways has a restriction therein, and said last restricted passageway is connected to said control fluid connection.
 12. Liquid delivery control apparatus comprising a chamber having an outlet, a nozzle member for delivering a liquid jet into said chamber for discharge through said outlet, a source of liquid connected to said nozzle member, and control means for said nozzle member including a control port in communication with said chamber, the fluid pressure in said control port being positive with respect to the ambient and responsive to the pressure of said source, and said control means having a member responsive to the pressure in said control port for limiting the maximum value of the pressure in said control port.
 13. Liquid delivery control apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said responsive member includes a tubular element extending upwardly above said chamber in communication with said nozzle member and of a height to limit the applied head. 